Library Reference Data
 
 

     The Mercantile Guild is a trade organization whos members consist largely of Merchant Vessel Owners and Crew, but also admits within it's ranks planetary trade concerns, such as owners and employees of holding companies, shipping yards and warehouses that deal in interstellar commerce.  The Mercantile Guild organization pre-dates the Republic and the Terek Federation that preceeded it. The original Guild formed during the Chaos Years, from the remnants of the Imperial Relief Fleet that was tasked with transporting refugees from war-ravaged worlds at the end of the Eristicon War.  Over time, merchant fleets and organizations from various worlds joined the organization, mainly for the protection offerred against piracy along the shipping routes frequented by the Guild.  Today, the Mercantile Guild members are responsible for over 70% of all interstellar shipping.

   The Guild has a very loosely-bound membership.  Only a select set of higher ranking Guild members meet on a regular basis; most members simply pay their dues in the form of a pre-determined cut of the shipping commissions.  In exchange for this fee, the Guild provides members with special priveleges, including access to Guild landing and refueling facilities, Close Escorts (in some areas) or other piracy protection, and access to a private network of buyers and sellers who deal exclusively with the Guild.

    The unofficial account of the Mercantile Guild paints a far less flattering picture.  Details of the Guild's organization and practices are not well-known, and the Guild has a reputation for being very secretive.  One prime example of their secrecy is their closely guarded handling of accurate insterstellar maps, chart, and planetary information databases.  The Guild owns a large amount of valuable trade data of this type, the result of years of experience plying the trade routes of the Republic.

    More disturbing are the recent and increasingly frequent connections between the Mercantile Guild and organized crime.   It is widely known that the Blazonis crime family is deeply involved with the operations of the Mercantile Guild, and Guild activities have often been used as a cover for organized crime.  The connection between the Mercantile Guild and the darker side of society has always been known, even in the pre-Republic days.  The rise of the Blazonis family to the top of the Guild's ranks is one of the most blatant displays of indifference regarding keeping up legal appearances yet seen.

    The Blazonis family is headed by three brothers, Peter V. Blazonis, Peter G. Blazonis, and Peter C. Blazonis.  Together, the three brothers preside over a vast criminal network, including piracy, extortion, racketeering, gambling, identity forgery, and a host of other illegal activities on various worlds in the Republic and beyond.  Peter V. Blazonis has so far evaded criminal prosecution, and has proved to be ingenious at hiding his income from tax inspection through the use of off-world accounts, money laundering, and credit exchange schemes.  Peter V. is the public face to the family, and makes all the needed public appearances for Guild functions.

    Peter G. is wanted on a number of charges on several Republic worlds, his whereabouts is unknown.   He is believed to be somewhere on Terek, possibly in the unregulated regions to the north, such as the Wylov Island chain.

    Peter C. Blazonis is a shadowy figure, rarely seen in public, but not currently wanted by the authorities.  It is believed that he runs the legitimate side of the Blazonis businesses, including much of the Mercantile Guild operations.  He is very much "the man behind the curtain", wielding power from afar.  His last known location was also on Terek, in the Perex City region.